Well tester



D. P. GREEN E1- AKl.- 2,806,539

Sept. 17, 1957 WELL TESTER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Feb. l5. 1956INVENToRs. Daniel P. Green.

Harry E. Schwegmon.

ATTORNEY.

Sept. 17, 1957 D. P. GREEN ET AL Filed Feb. 13, 1956 FIG. ,6.

vvvvv WELL TESTER.

FIG. 7.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8.

'- INVENTORS.

Daniel P. Green. BY Harry E.Schwegmun,

ZWHM

ATTO R N EY.

United States Ful WELL TESTER Application February 13, 1956, Serial No.565,173 2 Claims. (Cl. 1664-226) This invention relates to a new andimproved apparatus for testing wells.

In the flow testing of oil and gas wells, a well flow pipe is providedfrom the well surface to the formation to be tested. This pipe has atester valve to control iiuid flow therethrough and packing means toseparate the formation to be tested from the liuid column that isprovided to control excess formation pressures. Thus, opening the valvewill permit fluid ow from the formation directly through the pipe to thewell surface. After this fiow has been determined the valve is usuallyclosed, the packer unseated, and the pipe removed from the well.

However, it is frequently found that a formation believed to beproductive will have little or no ilow upon opening of the valve. Thiscondition may becaused by misplaced perforations, drilling mud iiltercake, or other factors peculiar to the well. If it is thought thatadditional treating might prove the formation productive, currentpractice is to remove the testing pipe, perform the treating operation,replace the testing pipe, and perform another test. Some examples ofsuch treatments are perforating, fracturing, acidizing, or combinationsof these. Certain of these treating operations, such as fracturing oracidizing, additionally require a pipe to be placed in the well bore fortheir performance which has to be removed before replacing the testingpipe. It is obvious that removal and replacement of such pipe asheretofore described entails time and effort which, if dispensed with,would offer considerable economy.

It is therefore the general object of this invention to provide improvedapparatus for conducting one ormore iiow tests of a well formation, eachof which may be interposed with various well treatments such asperforating or fracturing, and having the iiow tests and treatments allconducted with only one placement and one removal of the testing pipe.

Briefly described, this object is attained by providing a well testingdevice made up of relatively rotatable upper and lower tubular housings,which form a tester, and a valve assembly adapted to be detachablyconnected within the tester. The valve assembly has an upper sleeve anda lower sleeve also adapted for relative rotation. A mandrel is providedwithin these sleeves and is actuated thereby to control fluid flowthrough the Valve. The upper sleeve is adapted'to rotate with the upperhousing, and the lower sleeve is adapted to rotate with the lowerhousing. v

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become readilyapparent` from the following description considered in connection withthe accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a well bore with apparatusconstructed in accordance with the present invention located therein; v

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a tester employed in theapparatus of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the tester of Figure 2 taken at 33thereof;

arent O ice Figure 4 is a transverse section of the tester of Figure 2,taken at 4-4 thereof;

Figure 5 is a transverse section of the tester of Figure 2 taken at 5-5thereof;

Figures 6, 7 and 8 are longitudinal sectional views of the tester ofFigure 2 but showing some of the parts in different relative positionsto illustrate the sequence of operation.

As illustrated in Figure 1, a tester 10 is connected in a testing pipe12 and placed in a well bore 14. Below the tester 10, there is acoupling pipe 13 and an equalizing valve 16. There is another couplingpipe 15 connecting the equalizing valve 16 to a packer 18 and be'- neaththe packer 18 there may be a tail pipe 17. The purpose of the packer 18is to isolate the formation to be tested from the fluid column found inthe well bore. The hydrostatic pressure of this fluid column is greaterthan the formation pressure and is present to prevent any blowout. Thepurpose of the equalizing valve 16 is to provide fluid passage from thewell bore into the pipe 12. when such is desired. This valve 16, andeverything incorporated in the string below it, is conventional andforms no part of the present invention. The present invention resides inthe particular construction of the tester 10. It is pointed out thatwhile the drawing herein illustrates the assembly as being placed in anuncased well bore, it may be used in cased well bores as well.

The details of the present .invention are shown in Fignres 2 to 8.Referring to Figure 2, it will be seen that the tester 10 has a passage20 therethrough. The passage 20 is preferably of a diameter as great asthat of pipe 12. Tester 10 is made up of an upper housing 22 and a lowerhousing 24, which telescope together. The lower portion of the housing22 is provided with four outwardly extending lugs or clutch jaws 26, andthe lower housing 24' is provided with four inwardly extending lugs 27;When the parts are in the position shown'in Figure 2, this clutcharrangement prevents relative rotation between the upper housing 22 andlower housing 24. When the housings 22 and 24 are fully telescopedtogether as shown in Figure 7, the lugs 26 are below the lugs 27, so thehousing 22 may then rotate freely with respect to the housing 24. A snapring 28 may be employed to assist in preventing telescoping untildesired. Sealing means, such as O rings 44, are provided between thehousings 22 and 24 to preventany fluid passage therebetween.

As shown in Figures 2 to 8, `a removable valve assembly 30 may belocated in the tester 10. The assembly 30 includes an upper sleeve 32and a lower sleeve 34. The sleeves 32 and 34 are connected Vto eachother for free relative rotation by the swivel 31',` but this connectionprevents any longitudinal movement between these sleeves. A mandrel 36is connected by threads 37 to upper sleeve 32, and this mandrel extendsdown into the lower sleeve 34. Rotation between the mandrel 36 and thesleeve 34 is prevented by the splines 33 and 3S. Thus, the arrangementis such that relative rotation between the sleeves 32 and 34 causeslongitudinal movement of said mandrel within said sleeves to selectivelycontrol the position of ports 62 therein, as hereinafter described.

Referring to Figures 2 and 5, it will be Seen that there is provided inlower sleeve 34 two resiliently mounted landing detents 9 adapted toregister in a landing recess 3S of the lower housing 24. Traversing aportion of landing recess 38 is an inwardly extending lug 40. Thearrangement is such that the valve assembly 30, when moved downwardly,will be supported against further downward movement when landing detent9 expands into landing recess 3S. As s een in Figure 5l ug 40 .engagesthe expanded landing detent 9 and thereby .limits relative rotation oflower 'housing 24 and lower sleeve 34.

If.desired,.a pressure recording device may be attached U to the valveassembly 3i) at 42 to record the various pressures encountered during aflow test.

Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that there is providedonthe upper sleeve 32, a pair of detents- 46 which are adapted to registerin a latching recess 48 of the upper housing 22. Traversing a portion oflatching recess 48 is a resiliently mounted key 50. Also provided inV asocket 49 at the top of the upper sleeve 32 is an externally threadedlatching sleeve 52, restrained against longitudinal movement withinupper sleeve 32 by an internally threaded split spring ring 54. Aportion of sleeve 52 is cone shaped and adapted to force the latchingdetents 46 outwardly when moved in longitudinal relation with respectthereto.

As shown in Figure 6, the latching sleeve 52 may be forced downwardlythrough the split ring 54. This forces latching detents 46 into latchingrecess 4&5, and thereby prevents relative longitudinal movement of uppersleeve 32 and upper housing 2.2. As seen in Figure 3, key 56 is adaptedto engage one or the other of the latching detents 46 and thereby limitsrelative rotation of upper sleeve 32 and upper housing 22. In the eventlatching detents 46 are expanded while radially aligned with key 50, theresilient mounting of key 50 allows such expansion but returns the keyto engaging position upon rotation of housing 22.

A projecting coupling S6 of conventional design, for accommodating agrapple, such as an overshot or spear, is connected to the upper portionof latching sleeve 52, for the purpose of placing and retrieving thevalve assembly 30. A wire line jar (not shown) may be used to applyforces to latching sleeve 52. It is pointed out that other means couldbe so connected and perform the same function. As an example, pump cupsin combination with an upwardly opening check valve would permit thevalve assembly 30 to be lowered and latched by pump pressure and laterraised by the same means, the check valve serving to provide therelatively high latching force.

A packer 70, such as a hollow cylinder of rubber, is providedintermediate upper sleeve 32 and upper housing 22. When compressedlongitudinally by moving the packer shoe 6o downwardly, the packer 70seals the valve assembly 30 to the upper housing 22 as shown in Figures6 and 7. The detents 46, provided with a Wedge shaped contiguration,abut against the shoe 60 and produce the downward movement afterexpanding into latching recess 48 as previously described.

It will be seen that the valve assembly 30, upon being placed in thehousing 22 and latched as described, temporarily becomes part of thehousing 22 and prevents flow of liuid through the passage 20. With theparts in the position shown in Figure 6, when the housing 22 is rotatedwith respect to the housing 24, the sleeve 32 rotates with respect tothe sleeve 34.

When the sleeve 32 is rotated with respect to the sleeve 34, the threads37 act as a screw-jack so that the mandrel 36 moves longitudinally.

When making a test in a well bore the packer 18 is set, as shown inFigure 1, and the equalizing valve 16 is closed. The purpose of thetester 10 is to control the flow of well iluid from the tail pipe 17 upthrough the lower part of the string into the pipe 12. Until the valveassembly 3i! is placed in the housings 22 and 24 and the packer 70 set,fluid can llow freely through the passage 20. After the assembly is solocated, and the packer 7@ set, as shown in Figure 6, the position ofthe mandrel 36 controls the flow through the passage 20.

To cause the mandrel 36 to serve this purpose, it is provided with atluid passage 39 which terminates at its lower end in a radial upperport 62 and lower radial port 64, one or the other of which ports beingadapted to register with a port 66 in lower sleeve 34. With the parts inthe position shown in Figure 6, both ports 62 and 64 are below port 66so no iluid can ow through passage 39,

As illustrated in Figure 7, when longitudinal upward movement of mandrel36 within sleeves 32 and 34 is effected, the upper port 62 comes intoregistry with sleeve port 66. Fluid may then liow from the formationbeing tested through the tail pipe 17 and on up through the couplings 15and 13, the equalizing valve 16 and the tester 1t? into the pipe 12. Theflow through the tester 1t? is through the annular space between thesleeve 34 and the housing 24 up to the port 62 and then through theports 62 and 66 and the passage 39. Although not illustrated in thedrawing, it will be clear that additional movement will place sleeveport 66 between upper port 62 and lower port 64, and in between the twolower O rings 53 on the mandrel thereby preventing flow through thetester 1.6. Still further longitudinal movement (not illustrated) willregister lower port 64 with sleeve port 66 and again permit owtherethrough. With the ports 66 and 64 in matched position, by reversecirculation, fluid in pipe 12 may be pumped to the surface. Sealingmeans, such as O rings 58, prevent fluid leakage intermediate mandrel 36and sleeve 34 and thus insure control of uid tlow as previouslydescribed, but, of course, other means may be employed to control thellow.

As illustrated in Figure 8, the mandrel 36, upon further upward movementwithin the sleeves 32 and 34, is adapted to abut with and return thelatching sleeve 52 to its initial position, thus reversing the latchingprocedure previously described and making the valve assembly 30 readyfor withdrawal. It is also pointed out that a straight vertical pull onretrieving coupling 56 will provide the same unlatching action. Thevalve assembly 30 may therefore be unlatched in this manner if desired.The valve assembly 34E may now be withdrawn.

The valve assembly 30 may be initially latched in the tester 10, at thesurface, in the position shown in Figure 6. The testing pipe 12 isplaced in the well bore and the packer 13 expanded as illustrated inFigure l. The valve assembly 30 is then used as a conventional tester tokeep tluid out of the testing pipe until the selected formation is to betested. After the packer 1S is set, it serves as a support for the lowerhousing 24. The pipe 12 and upper housing 22 may then be loweredslightly to move the clutch jaws 26 ont of engagement with the lugs 27,so that the housing 22 may then be rotated by the pipe 12 to cause themandrel 36 to bring the valve ports 62 and 66 into alignment to permitflow into the pipe 12, as described above. After the test is completed,additional rotation will close the valve as described and will permit arecord to be made of the actual formation pressure. Continued rotationwill match ports 64 and 66 so reverse circulation may be accomplishedwhen the valve 16 is opened or packer 18 is unseated. Still furtherrotation will unlatch the valve as previously described. If additionaltreatment such as perforating is desired, the valve assembly 3l) may beremoved by pumping it out or by retrieving it on a wire line.

Although a preferred embodiment of this invention has been illustratedand described herein, various changes may be made by those skilled inthis art without departing from the spirit of the invention as definedin the appended claims.

That which is being claimed is:

l. A well tester adapted to be connected to a well pipe comprising anupper fluid conducting housing and a lower fluid conducting housingtelescoped together, clutch means connecting said housings to preventrelative rotation therebetween at times but permit relative rotationwhen desired, a valve assembly for controlling the ow of uid throughsaid housings, said valve assembly having two sleeves having a flow paththerethrough and a swivel connecting them together and being adapted tobe placed in said housings or removed therefrom, means for detachablyconnecting one of said sleeves to said upper housing to rotatetherewith, means for detachably connecting the other of said sleeves tosaid lower housing to rotate therewith, and means in the valve assemblyfor opening and closing the flow path through said sleeves and conductfluid through said Valve assembly, said last mentioned means beingactuated by relative rotation of said housings.

2. A well tester adapted to be connected to a well pipe comprising anupper iluid conducting housing and a lower fluid conducting housingtelescoped together, clutch means connecting said housings to preventrelative rotation therebetween at times but permit relative rotationwhen desired, a valve assembly for controlling the ow of fluid throughsaid housings, said valve assembly being adapted to be mounted in saidhousing and retrieved therefrom by a wire line, said assembly includingtwo sleeves with a swivel connecting them, and a mandrel having a lluidpassage therein screw threaded to one of them and splined to the other,the lower of said sleeves having a port therein, a packer for effectinga seal between the upper of said sleeves and the upper housing, meansfor detachably connecting one of said sleeves to the upper housing torotate therewith, means for detachably connecting the other of saidsleeves to the lower housing to rotate therewith, and means in the valveassembly actuated by relative rotation of said housings for bringing thefluid passage in the mandrel into registration with the port in thelower sleeve to control flow of fluid through said valve assembly.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,073,107 Johnston Mar. 9, 1937

